{"id":135086,"date":"2025-02-20T15:42:56","date_gmt":"2025-02-20T20:42:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kendallharmon.net\/?p=135086"},"modified":"2025-02-20T15:44:49","modified_gmt":"2025-02-20T20:44:49","slug":"nyt-next-likely-chancellor-promises-a-tougher-germany","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kendallharmon.net\/?p=135086","title":{"rendered":"(NYT) Next Likely Chancellor Promises a Tougher Germany"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Friedrich Merz, the man favored to be Germany\u2019s next chancellor<\/a> after elections on Sunday, is a conservative businessman who has never been a government minister and was forced out of party leadership years ago for challenging Angela Merkel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a Christian Democrat and committed trans-Atlanticist, he has been considered a potentially better match for President Trump than the current Social Democratic chancellor, Olaf Scholz. He is also expected to lead a foreign policy more aligned with Mr. Trump\u2019s ideas about Europe\u2019s taking responsibility for its own defense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But recent comments by Mr. Trump and Vice President JD Vance<\/a> have displayed just how difficult any partnership may be with a United States that is less reliable and possibly hostile, and sympathetic to Russia\u2019s narrative on Ukraine<\/a> and spheres of influence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That challenge is especially profound for Germany, and after Sunday is likely to fall on Mr. Merz, 69, who is known to be assertive and direct, if a bit awkward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read it all<\/a>.<\/p>

"Next Likely Chancellor Promises a Tougher Germany" by Steven Erlanger via NYT New York Times https:\/\/t.co\/k70kWvVQ7b<\/a><\/p>— LadyEleanorA (@LadyEleanorA) February 20, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote>